Easy Graduation Cookies Fondant (Printable)

Soft sugar cookies adorned with handmade fondant mortarboard hats, perfect for celebrations or gifting.

# Ingredient list:

→ Sugar Cookies

01 - 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ Fondant Mortarboard

08 - 8 ounces black fondant
09 - 1 ounce yellow fondant
10 - Cornstarch for dusting and rolling

→ Glaze

11 - 1 cup powdered sugar
12 - 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
13 - 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract

# How-to:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, cream softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until incorporated. Do not overmix.
06 - Roll dough onto a lightly floured surface to 0.25-inch thickness. Cut into 2.5-inch round or square shapes using cookie cutters.
07 - Place cookies on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cool completely on a wire rack.
08 - Roll black fondant to 0.125-inch thickness. Cut 24 small squares approximately 1.25 inches each for mortarboard tops. Roll 24 small cylinders approximately 0.5 inches long for bases.
09 - Roll yellow fondant into thin ropes and cut into 1-inch pieces. Shape pieces as desired for decorative tassels.
10 - Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract together until smooth consistency is achieved.
11 - For each cooled cookie, use glaze to attach a fondant square in the center. Position a fondant cylinder beneath the square as the base. Attach a yellow tassel to one corner using a small amount of glaze.
12 - Allow all decorations to set for 20 to 30 minutes before serving or packaging.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They look impossibly fancy but honestly come together faster than you'd think, especially once you find your rhythm with the fondant.
  • Your graduate gets a personalized keepsake that tastes buttery and delicious, not like you slaved away for hours (even though you kind of did).
  • They're surprisingly forgiving—lumpy mortarboards somehow add character, and minor fondant imperfections disappear once you step back.
02 -
  • Fondant gets stiff and crumbly if you work it too much; handle it gently and keep unused portions wrapped tightly in plastic wrap so it stays pliable.
  • The cookies taste good immediately but flavor improves slightly after a day, so make them the day before if your schedule allows.
  • Don't refrigerate these cookies; moisture from the fridge makes fondant sweat and icing separates, so keep them in an airtight container at room temperature.
03 -
  • Room temperature is everything for butter; take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before starting, and your dough will cream up beautifully instead of looking greasy or chunky.
  • If you're nervous about the fondant technique, practice on a few cookies first—the ones that look imperfect still taste amazing and honestly nobody notices minor fondant flaws once they bite into a buttery cookie.
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